Early Cardiac Activity Predicts Good IVF Outcome Dec 25, 2008
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - A beating fetal heart 4 weeks after in vitro fertilization (IVF) predicts successful completion of the first trimester of pregnancy. "Early ultrasound, in the patient with no history of miscarriage, is a very good predictor of a viable pregnancy," Dr. Peter G. McGovern from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey in Newark told Reuters Health. (MEDLINEplus)
Protein Helps Build Muscle Mass: Possible Treatment For Muscle Wasting Disorders Dec 25, 2008
These phenotypes are similar to those caused by the calcineurin/NFAT pathway and, indeed, inhibiting calcineurin blocked the effects of FHL1 overexpression in vitro. The authors showed that FHL1 binds to and enhances the transcriptional activity of NFATc1 in vitro and in vivo. (Science Daily)
Nanoparticles Delivering Drugs Can Kill Skin, Breast Cancer Cells Dec 25, 2008
Kester et al. Calcium Phosphate Nanocomposite Particles for In Vitro Imaging and Encapsulated Chemotherapeutic Drug Delivery to Cancer Cells. Nano Letters, 2008; 8 (12): 4116 DOI. (Science Daily)
Cancer: Tamoxifen's Power Comes From Endoxifen Dec 25, 2008
D., designed an in vitro model system for treating cancer cells with tamoxifen, 4HT, and endoxifen in amounts that mirrored doses found in women who were prescribed tamoxifen therapy. The researchers were surprised to find that endoxifen actually degraded estrogen receptors in these cancer cells, thus slowing their growth. (Science Daily)
Wednesday's Sports In Brief Dec 25, 2008
Armstrong had three children with his ex-wife, Kristin, using in vitro fertilization with sperm he had banked before undergoing chemotherapy. Three years after retiring following his last Tour de France win, Armstrong announced in September his return to competition and the Tour de France in 2009. (International Herald Tribune)
For today's 'magi,' the power of giving endures Dec 25, 2008
She's undergoing in vitro fertilization with David's sperm. And so, her Christmas wish is that this is the last one she'll celebrate alone. (USA Today)
Apolipoprotein(a): A natural regulator of inflammation Dec 25, 2008
While several in vitro studies have demonstrated the interference of apo(a) in plasminogen leukocyte recruitment, evidence for this in vivo has been lacking. In vivo investigation of Lp(a) function has been impeded by the lack of availability of small animal models. (EurekAlert!)
Case Western Reserve finds mechanism underlying alt. splicing of premessenger RNA into messenger RNA Dec 25, 2008
This work was done both in vitro and in vivo, with similar results. In control synthetic pre-mRNA's where the weak upstream splice site was left out, splicing always took place between the preferable downstream splice site and the common splice ending point. (EurekAlert!)
Artificial Human Bone Marrow Created In A Test Tube Dec 23, 2008
23, 2008) Artificial bone marrow that can continuously make red and white blood cells has been created in a University of Michigan lab. This development could lead to simpler pharmaceutical drug testing, closer study of immune system defects and a continuous supply of blood for transfusions. (Science Daily)
Medicare withstood Republican assault Dec 23, 2008
Mr. Sullivan describes some of what has occurred through failing to recognize each human as a magnificent work of art: "The veritable explosion in reproductive technologies -- for example, in vitro fertilization [IVF] -- has taken place with no debate about whether their use is a good or bad idea. .. . Advances in prenatal testing are increasing rapidly ... babies determined to have a genetic deformity are often killed in abortions ... . The eugenic alternative, toward which we are relentlessly... (NJ.com -- Times)
2006 Corn Silage Variety Test Results (2) Dec 21, 2008
Whole-plant forage quality traits listed include crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), 48- hour in vitro digestibility (IVD), 48- hour neutral detergent fiber digestibility (NDFD), and starch concentration. With the exception of NDFD, all forage quality traits are expressed as a percent of dry matter. (Minnesota Farm Guide, MN)
Changes in stem-cell funding may be on horizon Dec 21, 2008
President Bush has not allowed federal funding for research using stem cells harvested from leftover human embryos that are discarded from in vitro fertilization clinics. Instead, federal research funding has been limited to research using a handful of stem-cell types developed years ago. (Athens Banner-Herald)
Takara Bio RetroNectin to UCLA for TCR-gene Therapy Clinical Trials in Advanced Melanoma Dec 21, 2008
In the UCLA clinical trial, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) collected from melanoma patients are retrovirally-transduced in vitro utilizing the RetroNectin method with a gene encoding T-cell receptor (TCR) which specifically recognizes tumor antigen MART-1 expressing on melanoma cells. The TCR-gene transduced PBMCs will be expanded in vitro and then infused back into the patients, so that the transduced PBMCs can specifically recognize and attack the tumor cells in the patients. (JCN Network, Japan)
The pope's real message for Obama Dec 20, 2008
That's a useful bit of context to bear in mind in light of a tough new Vatican document on bioethics, released one week ago, that ratchets up the church's condemnations of embryonic stem cell research, in vitro fertilization, the "morning-after pill" and a host of other techniques it regards as violations of human dignity. In the United States, the tendency may be to see the document, titled "Dignitas Personae," or "Dignity of the Person," as a battle plan for resistance to the incoming Obama... (International Herald Tribune -- Ed/Op)
Health providers' 'conscience' rule to take effect Dec 19, 2008
The right-to-refuse rule includes abortion and other aspects of healthcare where moral concerns could arise, Leavitt's office said, such as birth control, emergency contraception, in vitro fertilization, stem cell research and assisted suicide. The rule, to be published today in the Federal Register, takes effect the day before President Bush leaves office. (Los Angeles Times)
President Bush unveils conscience rule for health-care industry Dec 19, 2008
The right-to-refuse rule includes abortion, but Leavitt's office said it extends to other aspects of health care where moral concerns could arise, including birth control, emergency contraception, in vitro fertilization, stem cell research or assisted suicide. The rule takes effect Jan. 19. (Chicago Tribune)
Olive oil suppresses breast cancer oncogene Dec 19, 2008
EVOO polyphenolic fractions were tested on their tumoricidal ability against HER2-negative and HER2-positive breast cancer in vitro models using MTT, crystal violet staining, and Cell Death ELISA assays. The effects of EVOO polyphenolic fractions on the expression and activation status of HER2 oncoprotein were evaluated using HER2-specific ELISAs and immunoblotting procedures, respectively. (BioMed Central)
Broad Foundation donates $25 million for stem cell research Dec 18, 2008
But opponents argue that using such cells destroys human life because they are derived from human embryos created during in vitro fertilization. Siding with opponents, the Bush administration sharply limited federal funding for stem cell research, a restriction that President-elect Barack Obama has said he will lift. (Los Angeles Times)
Avigen Sells Early Stage Research Program in Hemophilia to Baxter Dec 18, 2008
Most recently, an in vitro study on AV513 pro-coagulant efficacy in the donated blood of human hemophilia patients was presented at the American Society of Hemophilia meeting in San Francisco on December 9th ... Preclinical in vitro and in vivo studies indicate that AV513 has potential stand-alone utility and might act as an adjunctive or supplementary agent to boost clotting efficiency in combination with Factor VIII or Factor IX, the standard treatments for hemophilia A and B, respectively. (Primezone Releases)
Dicer, Drosha, and Outcomes in Ovarian Cancer Dec 18, 2008
Dicer-dependent functional assays were performed by means of in vitro transfection with small interfering RNA (siRNA) and short hairpin RNA (shRNA). Results Levels of Dicer and Drosha mRNA correlated with the levels of expression of the corresponding protein and were decreased in 60% and 51% of ovarian-cancer specimens, respectively. (New England Journal of Medicine)
Cimetidine inhibits salivary gland tumor cell adhesion to neural cells and induces apoptosis by blocking NCAM expression Dec 18, 2008
In this study, we have examined the effect of cimetidine on cancer cell adhesion to neural cells in vitro, one of the critical steps of cancer invasion and metastasis. We have also used an in vivo carcinogenesis model to confirm the effect of cimetidine. (BioMed Central)
Reward-stress link points to new targets for treating addiction Dec 17, 2008
Using an in vitro brain slice system, he discovered that dopamine increased excitatory glutamate signaling in this brain region ... His studies confirmed that in vivo administration of cocaine engaged the dopamine-CRF signaling cascade that the team had discovered in vitro. (EurekAlert!)
Silencing cytokeratin 18 gene inhibits intracellular replication of Trypanosoma cruzi in HeLa cells but not binding and invasion of trypanosomes. Dec 17, 2008
Based on that possibility, we addressed whether RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated down regulation of the CK18 gene could interfere with the parasite life cycle in vitro. HeLa cells transiently transfected with CK18-RNAi had negligible levels of CK18 transcripts, and significantly reduced levels of CK18 protein expression as determined by immunoblotting or immunofluorescence. (BioMed Central)
Good News For Young Male Cancer Patients Dec 16, 2008
And in cases requiring in vitro fertilization, IVF, is there a risk of using sperms that need help carrying out fertilization but also are bearing damaged genes. These issues have never been studied before. (Science Daily)
Success rate climbs for in vitro fertilization Dec 16, 2008
And the Canadian Fertility and Andrology Society says the pregnancy rate for in vitro fertilization was 35 per cent in 2007, up nine percentage points since 1999, when the group first started collecting these statistics. It was too soon to say what the rate of live births was for 2007, though it is generally expected that some of those pregnancies would have ended in miscarriage. (Globe and Mail -- National)
Three Clinical Studies of bioTheranostics Molecular Breast Cancer Diagnostics Presented at San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium Dec 15, 2008
A world leader in the field of in vitro diagnostics for 45 years, bioMerieux is present in more than 150 countries through 39 subsidiaries and a large network of distributors. In 2007, revenues reached Euro 1. (PR Newswire)
Biologist Modifies Theory Of Cells' Engines Dec 15, 2008
"The fact that motor number has nothing to do with regulating transport is extremely surprising, and somewhat unsettling to people working in vitro," says Welte. "It says we're really missing something when we study these motors only in the test tube instead of in a living cell.". (Science Daily)
Exiqon Announces Launch of First Molecular Diagnostic Test for Colon Cancer Dec 15, 2008
Initially, Exiqon will launch these tests through its CLIA-certified laboratory in the U.S. and, in the future, make them available to other laboratories and pathologists as fully approved in vitro diagnostic kits. An overview of planned proprietary product offerings by Exiqon Diagnostic including the pipeline of new miRNA based molecular diagnostic tests is depicted below. (Primezone Releases)
Agendia's Breast Cancer Test MammaPrint(R) Identifies New Subset of Low Risk HER2+ Patients Dec 14, 2008
MammaPrint(R) is the first 'in vitro diagnostic multivariate index assay' (IVDMIA) cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). FDA clearance requires clinical and analytical validation and reporting systems to ensure patient safety issues are addressed. (PR Newswire)
Tau protein expression predicts breast cancer survival -- though not as expected Dec 14, 2008
In vitro studies had shown that down-regulation of Tau expression increased the sensitivity of breast cancer cell lines to paclitaxel. Other studies suggested that high levels of Tau partially protect microtubules from paclitaxel binding and that low levels of the protein leave microtubules more accessible and vulnerable to the drug. (EurekAlert!)
Vatican unveils document on bioethical issues Dec 13, 2008
NEW YORK -The Vatican issued its most authoritative sweeping document on bioethical issues in more than 20 years yesterday, taking into account recent developments in biomedical technology and reinforcing the church's opposition to in vitro fertilization, human cloning, genetic testing on embryos before implantation, and embryonic stem cell research ... The document says that while "prenatal adoption" is "praiseworthy," it presents ethical problems similar to certain types of in vitro... (Boston Globe)
Gay Parents Can List Both Names on Kid's Birth... Dec 13, 2008
Nina Sheldon Trzeciak is carrying their first child, conceived through in vitro fertilization. The couple argued they both should be designated as parents under Paterson's directive. (Fox News)
Will a New Vatican Document Affect Science and Reproductive Health? Dec 13, 2008
The Vatican released a striking bioethics document today that condemns not only embryonic , human-animal hybrids, and human , but also the commonplace practice of in vitro fertilization that many couples depend on to have children ... The most difficult thing for me to understand was the judgments on assisted reproduction, particularly in vitro fertilization ... The document also mischaracterizes in vitro fertilization in a number of ways. (Scientific American)
Transplanted Fat Cells Restore Function After Spinal Cord Injury Dec 12, 2008
According to the study's lead researcher, Dr. Yuki Ohta of the Institute of Medical Science, St. Mariana University School of Medicine, Kawasaki, Japan, adipose-derived stem/stromal cells have in the past been shown to differentiate into neuronal cells in an in vitro setting. In their study, for the first time fat cells have been shown to successfully differentiate into neuronal cells in in vivo tests. (Science Daily)
Vatican condemns embryo stem cell research, cloning Dec 12, 2008
The 35-page document also attacked the concept of "designer babies," either by pre-implantation diagnosis during in vitro fertilization where embryos are selected before being transferred to a woman's womb, or in attempts at human cloning in the future ... in vitro fertilization. (Yahoo News)
Roman Catholic Church updates code on reproduction Dec 12, 2008
Haas says even some practicing Catholics may be surprised by the hard stance against in vitro fertilization (IVF) and embryo adoption because "most Catholics believe the church wants them to have a lot of children.". Steve Bozza, who deals with outreach to infertile couples for the Diocese of Camden, N.J., says this is still a very touchy issue for infertile Catholic couples. (USA Today -- News)
Vatican raises opposition to embryonic stem cells Dec 12, 2008
The Vatican is raising its opposition to embryonic stem cell research, in vitro fertilization and human cloning to a new level. But the Vatican is also saying in a major new bioethics document that it approves of some forms of gene therapy and encourages stem cell research using adult cells. (San Francisco Chronicle -- Politics)
Vatican bioethics document maintains "dignity of a person" Dec 12, 2008
It rejects all methods of in vitro fertilization, which is says turns babies into consumer commodities and leads to the deliberate destruction of embryos. It forbids the related freezing of embryos and experimentation on embryos. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA)
BETTER LIFE: Sexual health news Dec 12, 2008
Sexual health - Better Life - USATODAY.com. Review finds abortion doesn't cause mental health problems. (USA Today -- Tech)
The Frozen Ones Dec 12, 2008
Unless, that is, you make a baby through in vitro fertilization. In that case, you can put the embryo away in a freezer and decide what to do about it later. (Slate)
Entertainment Buzz Dec 12, 2008
Celine Dion and husband Rene Angelil plan to increase the size of their family the good 'new-fashioned' way: by in vitro fertilization. "Yes, we do have a frozen embryo," the singer told CBS Early Show host Julie Chen, people. (London Free Press)
AEterna Zentaris Completes Patient Recruitment for Safety Trial of Phase 3 Program with Cetrorelix in Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Dec 11, 2008
Cetrorelix acetate is marketed under the brand name Cetrotide(R), the first LHRH antagonist approved for therapeutic use as part of in vitro fertilization programs (controlled ovarian stimulation/assisted reproductive technologies) in Europe, the U.S. and Japan. It was launched on the market through Serono (now Merck Serono) in the United States, Europe and in several other countries, as well as in Japan through Shionogi. (Canada Newswire)
Once detected, HIV can be manageable Dec 11, 2008
Concerned about the risk of transmitting HIV to her husband if they stopped using condoms, I said I would refer her to an in vitro fertilization clinic. But before I could do that, my patient informed me that she was pregnant. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
Study of revlimid and vidaza in higher-risk MDS is well-tolerated and has high activity Dec 11, 2008
The concentration of VIDAZA required for maximum inhibition of DNA methylation in vitro does not cause major suppression of DNA synthesis. Hypomethylation may restore normal function to genes that are critical for differentiation and proliferation. (EurekAlert!)
Pregnancy & Fertility Dec 10, 2008
A new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has found that infants born as a result of assisted reproductive technology, or ART -- such as in vitro fertilization and the use of donor eggs -- are two to four times more likely to be born with certain types of birth defects than infants conceived naturally. But, the study's lead author says, the overall risk is still relatively low. (CNN -- Health)
BioMerieux buys PML Microbiologicals Dec 10, 2008
PML is a privately held in vitro diagnostics company that has manufacturing and marketing teams based in Portland, Ore. and Toronto, Canada. (St. Louis Business Journal, MO)
70-year-old in India gives birth to IVF baby Dec 9, 2008
Devi became pregnant through in vitro fertilization at a clinic in the northern Indian state of Haryana after doctors determined that she was healthy enough to survive a high-risk pregnancy. The mother and her infant daughter are reportedly both doing well. (MSNBC -- International)
Woman, 70, Gives Birth to First Child Dec 9, 2008
Rajo Devi gave birth to a baby girl nearly two weeks ago after undergoing in vitro fertilization, the AFP reported her doctor, Anurag Bishnoi, as saying Monday. "Rajo Devi and (her husband) Bala Ram approached the center for treatment and the embryo transfer was done on April 19," the doctor told the Hindustan Times. (Fox News)
Health Buzz: Stimulants for Healthy People and Other Health News Dec 9, 2008
Fewer than 3 percent require costly advanced reproductive technologies, such as in vitro fertilization. U.S. News lists to help make pregnancy possible. (U.S. News & World Report)
Vitamin E Shows Possible Promise In Easing Chronic Inflammation Dec 9, 2008
According to University of Illinois kinesiology and community health professor Kimberly Huey, past research has demonstrated that the antioxidant properties of Vitamin E may be associated with reduced expression of certain pro-inflammatory cytokines, in vitro, in various types of cells. Cytokines are regulatory proteins that function as intercellular communicators that assist the immune system in generating a response. (Science Daily)
Motherhood at 70 Dec 9, 2008
"The ICSI method enables even poor quality sperms being used creating embryos." In Devi's case, the paper adds, the doctors used "blastocyst culture," transferring the egg after five days in vitro instead of the usual two or three. The tinkering worked. (Slate)
Indian woman says she's a mother at 70 Dec 9, 2008
The baby girl, conceived through in vitro fertilization treatment, was born on Nov. 28 and was in good condition, the doctor said ... Devi said the couple, after being childless during 55 years of marriage, received in vitro treatment at the fertility center in April, after reading newspaper reports of a 58-year-old woman who last year delivered twins conceived through the procedure. (Florida Times-Union)
VIEW: The fitness of mother, child Dec 9, 2008
A 70-year-old woman in Haryana, Rajo Devi, gave birth to a baby after she and her husband childless after 55 years of marriage opted for in vitro fertilisation (IVF). Although the technique is used to facilitate conception in childless couples who suffer either partial or complete infertility, IVF has also been used in India and other countries to enable post-menopausal women in their 50s and 60s to conceive and deliver babies, though this is more the exception than the rule. (India Times, India)
Hana Biosciences Completes Phase 1 Clinical Trial of Menadione, Its Novel First-in-class Compound for Treatment-Limiting Skin Toxicity Associated With EGFR Inhibitors Dec 8, 2008
In vitro studies suggest that topically-applied menadione may restore EGFR signaling at the dermal/epidermal junction, which could prove beneficial to patients who receive EGFRI cancer therapy. Hana Biosciences in-licensed menadione from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York in October 2006. (Primezone Releases)
Fertility Patients Concerned About Embryo Disposition, But Resist Giving Embryos To Anyone Else Dec 6, 2008
12, 2005) Researchers at Yale School of Medicine have found that 85 percent of embryos transferred during in vitro fertilization fail to become live births, highlighting the need for improving diagnostic. (June 21, 2007) In a survey of more than 1,000 infertility patients with frozen embryos, 60 percent of patients report that they are likely to donate their embryos to stem cell research, a level of donation that. (Science Daily)
Blood Scanner Detects Even Faint Indicators Of Cancer Dec 6, 2008
"This work represents a giant leap forward in enabling technology for in vitro protein diagnostics with significant potential for many applications including cancer detection and management," said Dr. Sam Gambhir, the principal investigator of the Center of Cancer Nanotechnology Excellence at Stanford. Headed for hospitals. (Science Daily)
Liberal MPs urge IVF bill re-write Dec 6, 2008
Some Victorian Liberal MPs are urging the State Government to rewrite its contentious in vitro fertilisation (IVF) bill. Members of the Upper House are allowed a conscience vote on the bill that would broaden access to IVF technology. (ABC Online)
DiagnoCure announces fourth quarter and full year 2008 earnings conference call and webcast Dec 5, 2008
This test is also available through laboratories in the U.S. using PCA3 analyte specific reagents (ASR) from Gen-Probe, in Europe as the CE-marked PROGENSA(TM) PCA3 in vitro assay, and in Canada. In addition to its own research, the Company intends to acquire or in-license additional promising cancer biomarkers from both academic and commercial institutions. (Canada Newswire)
Women Unhappy With Disposal Options After Infertility Treatment Dec 5, 2008
Embryos are created during in vitro fertilization procedures at fertility clinics across the United States. "Oftentimes, more embryos are created than needed," said Lyerly, an associate professor at Duke University's department of obstetrics and gynecology. (U.S. News & World Report)
Novel Human Stem Cell-based Model Of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Opens Doors For Rapid Drug Screening Dec 5, 2008
Their findings, which appear in the Dec. 4 issue of the journal Cell Stem Cell, provide new insight into the toxic pathways that contribute to the demise of motor neurons in ALS and open up new possibilities for drug-screening experiments using human ALS in vitro models, as well as clinical interventions using astrocyte-based cell therapies. "A variety of drugs that had demonstrated significant efficacy in mouse models didn't keep their promise in both preclinical and clinical trials," says Fred... (Science Daily)
More Data On Key Genes In Diabetes Dec 5, 2008
In 2005, in experiments in vitro using rat skeletal muscle cells, the scientists removed the expression of only the Mfn2 gene without touching PGC1-beta, and confirmed that the decrease in mitochondrial fusion affected the capacity to generate energy, regardless of whether PGC1-beta is functioning correctly , stresses the head of the group, Antonio Zorzano. What we are proposing is that the alteration in the fusion alters mitochondrial activity. (Science Daily)
Parents torn over fate of frozen embryos Dec 5, 2008
The embryos were created by in vitro fertilization, which gave the Bests a set of twins, now 14 years old ... The message from the survey is that patients need more information, earlier in the in vitro process, to let them know that frozen embryos may result and that deciding what to do with them in the future "may be difficult in ways you don't anticipate," said Dr. Anne Drapkin Lyerly, the first author of the study and a bioethicist and associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Duke... (International Herald Tribune)
Modern day Noah works to save animals with science Dec 5, 2008
Kraemer works with a variety of reproductive technologies including embryo transfer, in vitro fertilization, artificial insemination and cloning. Since its inception, Noah's Ark has worked extensively with many species, including oryx, addax, desert bighorn sheep, giraffe and deer. (The Battalion, TX)
Translation key to 4.1R protein isoforms Dec 5, 2008
By analyzing the in vitro expression of a panel of naturally occurring 4. 1R cDNAs, we observed that all AUG1/AUG2-containing cDNAs gave rise to both long, 135-kDa, and short, 80-kDa, 4. (BioMed Central)
Heat shock cognate protein 70 contributes to Brucella invasion into trophoblast giant cells that cause infectious abortion Dec 5, 2008
We observed that internalization of B. abortus into TG cells was dependent on the VirB secretion system both in vitro and in vivo. A monoclonal antibody that inhibits bacterial internalization was isolated and this reacted with heat shock cognate protein 70 (Hsc70). (BioMed Central)
